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A review by book_concierge
The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
5.0
Book on CD narrated by Jayne Entwistle
Ten-year-old Ada lives in a one-room apartment with her mother and younger brother. Ada, however, has never left the apartment. She has a club foot and her mother doesn’t want anyone to see Ada. So, she sits at her window and watches the neighbors. She has no friends. She’s never attended school. Still, she feels responsible for her brother Jamie, so when he reports that the children of London are to be sent to the country due to the war with Germany, Ada makes up her mind to go with him.
This is a marvelous story of courage and tenacity. Bradly doesn’t sugarcoat the difficulties Ada faces, from her abusive mother, to her ignorance of things we take for granted, (she doesn’t know what soup is!), to the anger and fear that sometimes overwhelm her. But Ada is a very strong girl. And with perseverance, she will overcome the poor start she’s had in life.
The story is also about grief and tolerance. Susan Smith is the grieving woman who is coerced into taking Jamie and Ada in. She doesn’t want children; she doesn’t like children; she doesn’t know what to do with or for children. But over time she comes to understand their struggles and to care for them not just because they’ve been place in her charge, but because she genuinely loves them.
There is a sequel to this story and I can hardly wait to read it to find out what happens to Ada, Jamie and Susan.
The audiobook is masterfully performed by Jayne Entwistle. I have to admit that I initially kept thinking of Flavia deLuce because Entwistle narrated those books, but I quickly adjusted.
Ten-year-old Ada lives in a one-room apartment with her mother and younger brother. Ada, however, has never left the apartment. She has a club foot and her mother doesn’t want anyone to see Ada. So, she sits at her window and watches the neighbors. She has no friends. She’s never attended school. Still, she feels responsible for her brother Jamie, so when he reports that the children of London are to be sent to the country due to the war with Germany, Ada makes up her mind to go with him.
This is a marvelous story of courage and tenacity. Bradly doesn’t sugarcoat the difficulties Ada faces, from her abusive mother, to her ignorance of things we take for granted, (she doesn’t know what soup is!), to the anger and fear that sometimes overwhelm her. But Ada is a very strong girl. And with perseverance, she will overcome the poor start she’s had in life.
The story is also about grief and tolerance. Susan Smith is the grieving woman who is coerced into taking Jamie and Ada in. She doesn’t want children; she doesn’t like children; she doesn’t know what to do with or for children. But over time she comes to understand their struggles and to care for them not just because they’ve been place in her charge, but because she genuinely loves them.
There is a sequel to this story and I can hardly wait to read it to find out what happens to Ada, Jamie and Susan.
The audiobook is masterfully performed by Jayne Entwistle. I have to admit that I initially kept thinking of Flavia deLuce because Entwistle narrated those books, but I quickly adjusted.